Irish women have shockingly ranked first in the world for drinking during pregnancy.

The terrifying global study unveiled that over 60% of Irish births contain evidence of alcohol consumption, with the overall drinking rate during pregnancy in Ireland being anywhere between 20% and 80%.

The study was carried out by linking rates of drinking during pregnancy and the rates of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is caused by drinking alcohol when pregnant.

The research analysed over 3,500 cases of Irish maternal records from 1990 through to 2011, counting rates of foetal alcohol syndrome per population.

FAS occurs when alcohol blocks oxygen and nutrients travelling through the placenta to the baby.

Worldwide, around 119,000 children are born with FAS every year. Signs include developmental disabilities, low birth weight and stature and distinct facial features.

Study leader Dr Svetlana Popova warned: “The safest thing to do is to completely abstain from alcohol during the entire pregnancy. We estimated that one in 67 mothers who drink during pregnancy will deliver a child with FAS.”